Ensure safety of Tamil people residing in K'taka: Jaya tells Siddaramaiah
Chennai: As protests over releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu turned violent in Karnataka leading to attacks on the Tamils, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa urged her Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah to ensure safety and security of many lakhs of Tamil-speaking people residing in Karnataka and their properties.
Expressing concern over the “serious situation in Karnataka,” Ms Jayalalithaa requested him to take immediate and effective action to provide all necessary protection and security to ensure that no harm is caused to the person and property of Tamil-speaking people in Karnataka. “As per reports received, violence has escalated and a large number of vehicles, including over 40 buses, 45 lorries and many other vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu number plates have been burnt and damaged,” she said.
Groups of protesters from Karnataka regularly assembled at Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border near Hosur and threatened vehicles and commuters from TN. Hotels and properties belonging to Tamils in Karnataka were being attacked and damaged. “This is an alarming situation and is causing considerable anxiety,” she expressed in a letter to Mr. Siddaramaiah on Monday.
Acknowledging the receipt of his letter dated Sept. 12, regarding certain incidents in TN, the Chief Minister explained that she directed the TN Director General of Police to uphold the law and order and protect all Kannada-speaking people and their properties in the state, immediately after the media reports indicated violent protests in different parts of Karnataka, following SC’s directions on September 6.
“The protests by some sections in Tamil Nadu, including farmers, have been peaceful and lawful. Despite very provocative incidents that are taking place in Karnataka, absolute restraint has been observed in Tamil Nadu by all sections. We have ensured that no major incidents of any kind targeting Kannada-speaking people or their properties have occurred,” she claimed.
Prompt action leading to arrest of miscreants was resorted to with regard to the two minor incidents in Chennai and Ramanathapuram referred to in his letter the CM said and assured that precautionary measures were in place to maintain the law and order in Tamil Nadu.
